Teenager assaulted during schoolies

Date: November 27 2012

Marissa Calligeros

SCHOOL leavers partying in Byron Bay are being urged to stick together and look out for one another after an 18-year-old woman was sexually assaulted on Sunday night in what police have described as a ''terrible incident''.

The woman was approached by a stranger as she walked along Belongil Beach in Byron Bay on the NSW far north coast about 9pm on Sunday.

The woman was pushed to the ground before she was sexually assaulted.

Her attacker, described as Caucasian in appearance, aged in his late teens and with blond hair, fled the scene and the woman was taken to Byron Bay Hospital for treatment.

Detectives from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command established a crime scene at the beach.

Tweed-Byron local area commander Detective Superintendent Stuart Wilkins reminded all school leavers to remain vigilant and look after each other.

He said the woman had wandered off from the main party area where her friends were enjoying their end of school celebrations, and was by herself when danger presented itself.

''This is a terrible incident and, while we don't want to speculate on the circumstances, we really need to stress the importance of [them] enjoying themselves while being sensible and responsible," Mr Wilkins said.

More than 10,000 school leavers visit the Tweed/Byron area, in addition to hundreds of day trippers and other tourists each day, and police are out in force this year in a bid to minimise the impact on the community.

As the schoolies week continues, Northern Region Commander and Corporate Spokesperson for Youth, Assistant Commissioner Carlene York, said teens should be mindful that poor choices can lead to restrictions on travel and job prospects in the future.

This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.